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Weather & Climate in Kittitas, WA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Kittitas experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 279 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 8.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 23 / among the cleanest air in the country. 87% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 1,651 feet.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average49.2°F
9% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days279 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,651 ft (503 m)
Area0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Population Density1,521/sq mi
Coordinates46.9837°N, 120.4189°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyYakima County County
Nearest AirportGrant County International (MWH)
54 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 8.4"
78% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 1.61"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.28"

Air Quality

AQI Median23.0
RatingGood
Good Days %87.4%
Unhealthy Days0

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score94.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability63.9 / 100
Community Resilience13.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively High
Volcano Relatively Low
Avalanche Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

448 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.4.

May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 140 km 4 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 96 km -1 km
Jun 27, 2013 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington M4.3 96 km 8 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 39 km 4 km
Jun 17, 2010 30 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.2 100 km 3 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 116 km 12 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 87 km -1 km
Oct 9, 1998 20 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.0 90 km 2 km
Aug 8, 2023 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.9 123 km 16 km
Jun 25, 2004 17 km W of Packwood, Washington M3.9 119 km -1 km
Aug 7, 1992 8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon M3.9 140 km 0 km
Apr 15, 1991 4 km SE of Pateros, Washington M3.9 123 km 11 km
Sep 10, 1994 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington M3.9 119 km 17 km
Nov 18, 1997 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington M3.9 94 km 15 km
Jan 3, 2018 37 km SSE of Morton, Washington M3.9 149 km 10 km
Sep 12, 2015 3 km NE of North Bend, Washington M3.9 117 km 19 km
Mar 29, 2010 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington M3.8 41 km 1 km
Sep 4, 2011 14 km N of Richland, Washington M3.7 109 km 2 km
Jan 1, 1997 14 km NNE of Selah, Washington M3.7 23 km 18 km
Jul 13, 1995 13 km ENE of Ashford, Washington M3.7 112 km 7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

15 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 30, 1957 EF2 43 km 1.0 mi 0
May 1, 2024 EF0 29 km 0.4 mi 0
May 26, 2023 EF0 77 km 0.4 mi 0
Aug 13, 2014 EF0 88 km 0.3 mi 0
May 19, 2010 EF0 99 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 7, 2008 EF0 50 km 0.1 mi 0
May 9, 2005 EF0 41 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 23, 2005 EF0 79 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 23, 2005 EF0 71 km 0.1 mi 0
May 19, 2004 EF0 51 km 0.3 mi 0
May 15, 2000 EF0 61 km 0.2 mi 0
May 9, 1999 EF0 38 km — 0
Aug 26, 1997 EF0 71 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 4, 1992 EF0 77 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 1, 1979 EF0 87 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rainier (103 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 103 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 119 km
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 136 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 159 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 160 km
West Crater Volcanic field 1,329 m (4,360 ft) -5750 177 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: RANGE 12 (167,604 acres, 2016).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2016 RANGE 12 167,604 69 km
2000 24 COMMAND 162,300 88 km
1994 TYEE CREEK 123,618 93 km
1984 HANFORD 122,914 90 km
2021 SCHNEIDER SPRINGS 114,743 54 km
2013 COLOCKUM TARPS 79,279 31 km
2007 WAUTOMA 77,956 78 km
2020 EVANS CANYON 76,288 24 km
1996 COLD CREEK 72,859 44 km
2018 BOYLSTON 66,292 28 km
2012 TABLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX 65,887 35 km
2017 NORSE PEAK 51,017 75 km
2009 DRY CREEK COMPLEX 49,843 67 km
2024 RETREAT 44,681 50 km
2019 COLD CREEK 43,756 82 km
2018 COUGAR CREEK 42,681 93 km
2017 JOLLY MOUNTAIN 38,159 58 km
1988 DINKELMAN 36,246 73 km
2003 UMTANUM RIDGE 34,351 43 km
2017 SILVER DOLLAR 30,789 67 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 1.4 in
February 33°F (0°C) 0.9 in
March 41°F (5°C) 0.8 in
April 48°F (9°C) 0.6 in
May 55°F (13°C) 0.6 in
June 62°F (17°C) 0.6 in
July 71°F (22°C) 0.3 in Warmest, Driest
August 69°F (20°C) 0.4 in
September 60°F (16°C) 0.4 in
October 49°F (9°C) 0.6 in
November 36°F (2°C) 1.3 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 1.6 in Coldest, Wettest

Kittitas has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 27°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.5 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.6") and July the driest (0.3").

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